Moral Courage*

ELIZABETH HAYWARD GARDNER

I, who am of the tribe of Levi, saw!
Saw the swift anger on the face of him
Who toiled for erring Israel. I saw
Him cast the tables of the law of God
From out his hands and break them 'neath the mount.
I saw him take the graven golden calf
And grind it into powder; and I saw
Him straw it on the water. Israel
Drank deep of her accursed sin that day.

I heard the noise of revelry and feast
And then—wailing! For in and out from gate
To gate throughout the camp the Levites passed,
And full three thousand men, of Israel
The flower, slain upon the sands I saw.
I saw the moral courage of the man
Who turned his back upon the stiff-necked host
And humbly, meekly, all alone went forth
To talk with God as friend talks unto friend.

He knew the hate that burned within the hearts
Of them that danced and sang and feasted there;
He knew the mischief, e'en as Aaron said,
On which their hearts were fixed. Yet stayed he not
His feet, nor yet his hand; nor feared to turn
His back upon the disobedient throng.
And when he came again from his long fast
Bearing the tables graved of God, I saw
His face before he donned the veil. It shone!
And Israel bowed before that light, and took
Repentant, from his hand, the law of God.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Moral Courage*

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access